hurai

I'm looking to improve the ride of my '88 Rx7 convertible non-turbo. I'm pretty sure the shocks are stock (it really rough and noisy). I'd like to put new shocks on it, but I'd like to do this without spending a whole LOT of $$$. I've heard that KYB adjustable would be the best way to go... but for all 4 that adds up, especially when you add labor. Anyone know where to get the best deal on decent shocks?

Also, are there any other parts I might need to upgrade if I'm replacing the shocks (the springs maybe???).

Anyone looking to sell some slighly-used shocks? Let me know!

Thanks!!!
Hurai

vaughnc

Springs are usually good to ~125K miles before they get saggy.

My vert's original suspension is still going strong at 105K miles. The 929's supspension went around 115K miles.

note "rough ride" usually means you need an allignment & balance - or your tires are going bald. Usually when the shocks go your ride gets bouncy, the wind blows your car all over the road, and handling starts getting iffy at higher speeds.

I've heard the adjustables are a great comprimise between "utlra good handling but rough ridding" and "ultra smooth ride but sucky handling." I'm still a bit sqeemish though on making changes to my convertibles suspension. It is THE BEST RIDING & HANDLING car I've had. It rides better than my TII as well as it feels more "planted" on the road.

hurai

My car has only 90k miles and I just had an alignment and balance (which helped the handling immensely). The tires have about 70% of life left in them. The ride is not bouncy at all, pretty firm in fact. The the car rides extremely noisy though, and even the smallest bumps in the road cause major jarring. When I had the car aligned, I was shown that one of the rear shocks was leaking fluid.

I would really prefer not to dump a whole lot of cash into this car, but it's just so noisy at present. What would you suggest?

Thanks a heap!
Hurai

vaughnc

Rough roads are a bit jarring in this car (which is good for better handling - vs the car bobbing up & down all over the place on rough roads).

Well if your car only has 90K miles on it, I'd assume a nice pair of "cushy" shocks would be a good comprimise between price, performance, and ride.

If you've gotten full allignment & balance, your tires are wearing even (ie you rotate every 3 oil changes), springs are still good, then unless you have broken suspension links or some other type of suspension damage shocks should be fine.

The ONLY other thing that controls ride is worn out bushings.

Some of the other RX experts might have some other ideas as well.

You might want to have another convertible owner drive your car - mabey they can tell you something you missing.

deadRX7Conv

Its your choice, ride or handling. My RX7 Vert has 100k miles and the ride is firm but acceptable. Try tightening up the frame with upper/lower front brace, roll bar or rear strut brace. That might help. Cheap monroe/gabriel will improve the ride, but the car will handle a little worse. And, in reality, there are no cheap struts/shocks. All four will cost $$$$$, plus install.

I was told that the Vert has the same stiff shocks as the T2. You might get an improvement by switching to the base normal struts/shocks.

Visit shox/nopionline/mazdatrix/autozone/and look above/.... and other dotcoms and compare prices. Try calling the sears/meineke/speedy/monroe/pepboys/midas/franchisejoints and get prices for a complete strut/shock replacement with the cheapest nonadjustable kind that they sell.

My springs are beginning to sag a little bit. For the cost of springs, I think that I would rather go on a diet. But, if your car is low(check ride height) due to bad springs, you could possible be having less suspension travel which could lead to some of that bone jarring ride. Mazdatrix has spring rates on there web site. A variable(Eibach) spring weight or softer springs might help also.